Kolkata, October 9, 2026: Techno India Group, in association with Hyderabad Mavericks and AIC Techno, hosted Bengal – The Next Chapter in Kolkata on October 9, 2026, bringing together government representatives, Global Capability Centre (GCC) leaders, investors, human resources professionals, policymakers, startup founders and academic leaders. The event, part of the Hyderabad–Kolkata Ecosystem Connect, focused on exploring opportunities to strengthen West Bengal’s investment, innovation, entrepreneurship and talent ecosystems.
One of the notable moments of the event came when Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education, Government of India, interacted with startup founders. Meanwhile, Ashok Dinda, Minister of State for MSMEs and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, stayed back after his policy session to watch startup demonstrations and listen to the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. He also engaged in discussions on possible solutions. Their interactions highlighted the importance of connecting policy discussions with the practical needs of emerging businesses and fostering stronger engagement between policymakers and the startup ecosystem.
The event formed part of the broader Hyderabad–Kolkata Ecosystem Connect, held from October 8 to 11, 2026. Facilitated by Hyderabad Mavericks and AIC Techno, the initiative brought industry leaders from Hyderabad together with stakeholders in West Bengal to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for strengthening Kolklata’s position as a destination for GCCs, investment and innovation.
The gathering also received support from ecosystem partners, including Aditya Group India, Pankaj Diwan and Dr Rama Iyer of Hyderabad Mavericks.
Dignitaries and Industry Leaders Attend the Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony brought together Dr Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education, Government of India; Prof. Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson of Techno India Group and Co-Chancellor of Techno India University; and Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, Chief Mentor of AIC Techno, alongside leaders from the business and startup communities.
The visiting delegation comprised more than 30 GCC leaders, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs), talent acquisition professionals, investors and ecosystem enablers from Hyderabad. Discussions focused on sharing industry practices, identifying investment opportunities and strengthening collaboration among government, industry, startups and academic institutions.
White Paper and GCC Landscape Report Highlight Kolkata’s Potential
A key development at the event was the release of a white paper outlining the legal and regulatory framework for establishing Global Capability Centres in West Bengal. Prepared in collaboration with Anubhab Sarkar and the team at Triumvir Law, the publication addresses important legal and regulatory considerations associated with setting up GCC operations in the state.
The event also witnessed the launch of Protiviti’s Kolkata GCC Landscape Report, examining the city’s potential as a destination for Global Capability Centres. Sayantan Bose, Managing Director at Protiviti, represented the Protiviti India Member Firm during the initiative.
During the discussions, industry leaders emphasised that attracting businesses requires more than investment incentives. Efficient administration, predictable approvals and close coordination between government officials and companies are equally important.
Rajesh Kosuri, who leads Mattel’s GCC, highlighted the role of government engagement in building a supportive business environment, stating, “And the bonding that the bureaucrats bring into the ecosystem is extremely important.”
The discussions also highlighted the importance of accountable single-window clearance mechanisms, clearly defined approval timelines and ready-to-use office infrastructure that could help companies establish operations more efficiently.
Drawing on experiences from Hyderabad and other established business destinations, participants discussed attracting major multinational companies to strengthen investor confidence, encourage further corporate investment and create opportunities for supplier networks.
Three MoUs Signed to Strengthen Startup and Investment Opportunities
The event marked the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) involving three sets of organisations:
- AIC Techno and SilverX Fund
- SucSeed Play Capital and Aditya Group
- TalentFarm.ai and Techno India Group
The collaborations aim to strengthen connections across investment, entrepreneurship and talent development. By bringing together incubation platforms, investment networks and industry stakeholders, the initiative seeks to create more opportunities for startups to access mentorship, capital and business connections.
The partnerships also reflect the importance of building an interconnected ecosystem in which entrepreneurs can engage with investors, industry leaders and institutions to explore potential avenues for growth.
Ashok Dinda Interacts with Startup Founders and Assures Investors of Support
Direct engagement between policymakers and entrepreneurs emerged as one of the event’s notable highlights.
Dr Sukanta Majumdar interacted with founders, while Ashok Dinda, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, spent additional time with startups after his policy session. He observed their demonstrations, listened to the challenges they were addressing and engaged with them on possible solutions.
Addressing investors and industry representatives, Dinda emphasised the state’s willingness to support businesses. He said, “And the most important thing is whatever you do in Bengal invest your money. Our job is to support and guide you.”
His remarks reinforced the importance of cooperation between the government and private enterprises in creating an environment that encourages investment and supports business development.
The interaction also provided founders with an opportunity to communicate the practical challenges involved in developing and scaling their businesses, taking the conversation beyond formal presentations and policy discussions.
Around 20 Startups Pitch Their Ideas to Investors
Approximately 20 startups from AIC Techno’s incubation and acceleration programmes presented their businesses directly to visiting investors.
The lightning-pitch sessions enabled founders to introduce their business models, demonstrate their solutions and communicate their growth ambitions. These presentations were followed by one-to-one conversations, allowing entrepreneurs and investors to explore ideas in greater detail.
The participation of investors and ecosystem leaders from Hyderabad offered startups an opportunity to expand their professional networks and discuss potential avenues for funding, mentorship and market access.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of supporting startups beyond the initial incubation stage. Access to customers, experienced mentors, investment networks and opportunities to showcase products to wider markets were identified as important factors in helping emerging businesses grow.
Participants also discussed the potential for stronger collaboration among incubators, greater participation by alumni and diaspora networks, and more opportunities for innovation across districts in West Bengal.
Nuboxed Technology Launches Its Indian Entity
Another significant development was the official launch of the Indian entity of Nuboxed Technology.
Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, Chief Mentor of AIC Techno and an investor in Nuboxed Technology, joined the company’s founder, Satanik Roy, for the launch. Nuboxed is also part of AIC Techno’s acceleration cohort.
The development highlighted the role of incubation and acceleration programmes in helping startups establish their operations and pursue growth opportunities. It also reflected the importance of connecting founders with mentors and investors who can support their entrepreneurial journey.
Building an Industry-Ready Workforce for the Future
Talent development formed another important part of the Hyderabad–Kolkata Ecosystem Connect. A dedicated talent roundtable was organised by Techno India Group in collaboration with Hyderabad Mavericks and TalentFarm.ai, bringing together academic leaders from Techno India Group and GCC, CHRO and talent acquisition leaders from Hyderabad.
The discussion was moderated by Prof. Manoshi Roychowdhury and Pankaj Diwan, Founder of TalentFarm.ai and Co-founder of Hyderabad Mavericks.
Participants emphasised the need to align academic curricula more closely with industry requirements through practical projects, industry mentoring, internships and domain-specific learning. They also discussed the importance of developing communication, presentation, teamwork and problem-solving skills alongside technical knowledge.
The growing role of artificial intelligence in the workplace emerged as another important consideration. Vargab Bakshi highlighted how engineering education would need to adapt as AI tools increasingly take on coding tasks.
He said, “So, I would request all the people who are associated in the education industry, help engineers test code better than write code. Because writing the code would be done by computers.”
The observation underscored the importance of preparing students for evolving job requirements, including code testing, verification and the ability to evaluate technology-driven solutions.
The discussions further highlighted the need for structured internships, sustained faculty development programmes and closer coordination between academic institutions and employers. Participants also stressed the importance of creating suitable career opportunities in West Bengal to retain skilled professionals and attract experienced talent back to the state.
Strengthening Collaboration Across Ecosystems
Bengal – The Next Chapter highlighted the opportunities that can emerge when policymakers, investors, businesses, startups and academic institutions work together towards shared development goals.
The exchange with Hyderabad’s industry and startup ecosystem provided an opportunity to discuss practical approaches to attracting GCCs, strengthening investment networks, supporting entrepreneurs and preparing students for changing industry requirements.
From the release of the GCC-focused publications and the signing of MoUs to startup pitches, direct engagement with policymakers and the launch of Nuboxed’s Indian entity, the gathering brought together several dimensions of West Bengal’s business and innovation ecosystem.
The event also reinforced the importance of translating conversations into sustained collaboration. By strengthening connections between government, industry, investors, entrepreneurs and educational institutions, the initiative sought to encourage investment, support emerging businesses and create opportunities for skilled talent in West Bengal.